A curriculum framework for embedding artificial intelligence literacies in pre-registration nursing education.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Background:

• The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare necessitates preparing pre-registration nursing students.
• Current nursing curricula lack guidelines for embedding critical AI literacies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel curriculum framework for systematically embedding critical AI literacy into a three-year pre-registration nursing program.
• To provide a structured approach for developing AI competencies in future nurses.

Main Methods:

• Framework development involved pilot implementation and consultation with university staff, including academics and learning designers.
• The framework aligns with professional clinical guidelines and institutional AI principles.

Main Results:

• The framework proposes scaffolded learning outcomes, content, and skills across a three-year program.
• Year one focuses on foundational AI concepts, year two on healthcare applications, and year three on clinical implementation.

Conclusions:

• The structured framework ensures nursing graduates develop critical AI evaluation, ethical understanding, and clinical application skills.
• Future directions include wider adoption in healthcare education and collaborative refinement.